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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

COPYRIGHT OFFICE. 

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Forwarded to Order Division 



(Date) 
(Apr. 5, 1901—5,000.) ^jlpfrr 



f- 



ENOCH HOWARD 



AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



1903: 
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. 



ETa-so 



Life and Work of Enoch Howard. 



Enoch Howard^ a native of Morrow County, 
Ohio, was born on a farm near Chesterville. His 
first move toward a business career was to come 
as an inexperienced farmer boy into Delaware, 
according to a previous agreement with Messrs. 
Adam and Martin Miller, to engage his services 
with them for a term of years, to learn the prac- 
tical part of the confectionery business, in which 
they were engaged at that time. He was accom- 
panied from the farm home by his older brother, 
David, both on horseback, to within about ten 
miles of Delaware. 

At that point, it was decided that the ten miles 
could be made by Enoch alone on foot, and his 
brother David returned with the horses to the old 
farm and the boy went tramping on to Delaware. 
One thing- that was in favor of the boy on this 
tramp was, that his baggage was light. An in- 
voice of his personal property would read as fol- 
lows : One suit of clothes (on his person) ; some 
extra underwear, tied up in a red and white cot- 
ton handkerchief, and one single barrel "stub and 
twist" shotgun, which was a present from his 
uncle in Delaware. 

3 



With the ^un on his shoulder and the bundle 
swinging from the barrel of the same, he marched 
on to the east bank of the Obentangy River, 
which was the eastern limit of the town at that 
time. Here it occurred to the boy that his shot- 
gun was loaded, and to carry it into town as it 
was some accident might happen. Therefore he 
shot at a large beech tree near the road and struck 
it about twelve feet above the ground, and made 
a scar on the tree that could be seen and was the 
subject of comment by the boy's friends for at 
least twenty years after the shot was fired, a fact 
that to our Buckeye boy has been a pleasing re- 
minder in the march of time. 

The next point of interest in this tramp to Dela- 
ware was the crossing of the river into town, as 
there was no bridge and recent rains had swollen 
the stream to be about three feet deep. But a 
few minutes waiting on the bank brought over a 
boy and a row-boat from the opposite side of the 
stream, who came in answer to a signal for his 
services. The name of the boy "captain/' whom 
we can never forget, was Bob Mickel. The fare 
across the river was three cents. The entire cash 
capital of the passenger at that time was twenty- 
five cents (25 cents), which he handed to the boat 
boy and received as change a "Canada" quarter 
of a dollar, which was worth in that market 
twenty-two cents. Therefore the farmer boy 
landed in Delaware with a cash capital of twenty- 
4 



two cents in addition to the shotgun and the con- 
tents of the red and white cotton handkerchief. 

Not many months had elapsed when the new 
boy from the country had made himself ac- 
quainted with Mr. Miller's business and had be- 
come friends with many of the good people of 
Delaware, and had succeeded in making arrange- 
ments with Mr. Martin Miller to "keep bache- 
lor's hall" in a modest suite of rooms. But this 
primitive housekeeping arrangement, however, 
did not continue any great length of time, as the 
two "alternate" cooks, Martin and Enoch, mutu- 
ally agreed to go out on a "strike" until a more 
suitable boarding-place could be found, and until 
the question could be decided as to whether 
"mush and milk" and "wine soup" should be cer- 
tainly despised as a healthful and economical diet. 

By this time the terms of service and salary had 
been amicably agreed upon by all parties inter- 
ested, and the new business seemed to move along 
very pleasantly, while the country boy had be- 
come much attached to the town and the town's 
good people. 

But time does not stand still, and the country 
boy, now full two years in the service^ was rap- 
idly reaching the stature of manhood. At this 
point in the work yoimg Howard received from 
Mr. Miller, his employer, a complimentary pro- 
motion in this service, and was assigned to duty 
as manager of their business at Sandusky City. 
5 



The new opportunity was accepted with pleasure, 
and he at once moved away to his new business 
home, where he found the most pleasant sur- 
roundings in the growing young city. 

Mr. Martin Miller, whom we have mentioned 
before, is at this writing one of the best known 
and most highly respected citizens of Delaware. 
The farmer boy, whom he befriended in early 
days, now bears cheerful witness that Mr. Miller 
was not only then his true friend, but is also now, 
as man to man, still friends and companions in 
the journey of life. It is therefore acknowledged 
that the service with Mr. Miller was of lasting 
value to this farmer boy, as a first lesson in the 
ways of the world. 

Not long after this and not many years before 
the Civil War, Mr. Howard, or Enoch (as he 
was familiarly called), decided to go West and 
seek a greater fortune than now appeared to be 
his lot. Chicago was the objective point, and a 
course in a commercial college was the special 
object in view. 

But, in making a short visit in Detroit, a friend 
persuaded him to enter the Gregory Commercial 
College of that city, which he did; and after a 
thorough course of about six months was gradu- 
ated with compliments and recommendations 
from the principal. Through the young man's 
casual and fortunate acquaintance with Mr. B. 
B. Morris, a banker, the new graduate was ap- 
6 



pointed chief clerk in his banking office in De- 
troit. This was in reality the beginning of Mr. 
Howard's business career. After a successful 
service of about three years, up to the breaking 
out of the Civil War, there came a probability of 
a general panic and suspension of "Wild Cat 
Banks" in Illinois and Wisconsin, and Mr. Morris 
decided to move his banking business to Chicago. 
Enoch Howard went with him as his chief clerk. 
The office was located at 38 S. Clark St., where 
they assisted in buying and selling and closing all 
the banks of issue in the States of Illinois and 
Wisconsin. With this also closed out, all of the 
bankers and brokers in Chicago, except the new 
National banks and bankers. 

Sometime before his removal from Detroit, Mr. 
Morris had made a loan of several thousand dol- 
lars to the proprietor of the Detroit Omnibus 
Line, and as additional security he received a 
chattel mortgage on the property. The parties 
failed to pay the debt and the mortgage was fore- 
closed, and Mr. Morris had to take the property 
for the debt. Being in haste to close his Detroit 
office, he placed the omnibus line property in the 
hands of Mr. Howard, with full authority to sell 
it for cash as soon as possible and rejoin him in 
his new banking office in Chicago. ^^ 

Hence this literary effort: , ; T^^^H^U--:^^^- 



DETROIT OMNIBUS LINE! 



We wish to inform the good citizens of Detroit, Gentlemew 
lyADiBS, Masters and Missbs, that the 

OMNiBUS LINE 

will promptly respond to all calls for Omnibuses (numbering from 

one to as many as required), to attend Pleasure 

Seeking Parties ; such as 

Pic-Nics, Sunday School Excursions, Fishing Parties, etc., etc. 

^^^ Charges for services warranted to please in all cases. 



This "institution" was never in such a PROSPEROUS CONDI- 
TION, and so certain to please those who patronize it, as at 
present ; under the judicious superintendence of Mr. 
W. M. BARRETT, with none but careful and 
sober men for drivers. 

We also wish it distinctly understood that all orders left at the 

BANKING OFFICE OF B. B. MORRIS 

Cor. of Jeff. Ave. and Third St.— or with the man in charge of the 
Barn, 

COR. OF STATE AND FARMER 8TS. 

for Passengers or Baggage to and from 
PRIVATE HOUSES! 

will have the same strict attention as Passengers to and from all 

Hotels, Rail Road Depots, Steam Boats, etc. 

Fare 25 Cents for Passenger and Baggage. 



THE GREAT ACCOMMODATION 

R.I"V^ER. I?.OA,ID IJI3^TEi! 

Must not be forgotten while the obliging SII,AS KEI/I/OGG 

holds the "ribbons." I^eaving Woodward Avenue 

(we will say) every odd hour, 

VIZ, 7, 9, II, 1, 3 and 5 O'CLOCK. 

Returning leave Fort Toll Gate 
every even hour, 

VIZ. 8, 10, 12, 2, 4. and 6 O'CLOCK. 

Fare 10 cents, or 16 tickets for one dollar. To be had of the driver, 
or at the banking Office of B. B. MORRIS. 

ENOCH HOWARD, 

Detroit, June 18, i860. For B. B. MOBKIS, Prop. 



We now come to 1862, and the Civil War is on 
in good earnest. Every young man was ready to 
take a hand in the fight or get a "substitute," Mr. 
Howard, the young bank clerk, was no exception, 
and for the next few weeks was found looking for 
something to turn up that would fill his modest 
ambition to take part in the war. He did not have 
long to wait. At the old "Sherman House" one 
afternoon he met a friend, who was a most inti- 
mate friend of Gen. Allen C. Fuller, the Adjt.- 
Gen. of the State of Illinois, and one of the fore- 
most war generals of the Northwest. 

The friend suggested an introduction, and for 
him to make application for a clerkship in Gen. 
Fuller's office at Springfield, 111. Accordingly 
Mr. Howard was introduced at 4 o'clock P. M., 
made application for clerkship, was accepted, and 
boarded the 6 P. M. train, with Gen. Fuller and 
staff, for Springfield, and the next morning at 8 
o'clock found him at his desk in Springfield, en- 
rolled as one of the regular staff, and ready for 
business. The first work laid before the new 
clerk was enough to make anyone think of real 
war. It was a large book, known in that office 
as the "Regimental Roster." This book had been 
opened, ruled, and partly filled by Capt. Ulysses 
S. Grant, who was assisting the Adjutant- 
General at that time, while he was waiting for 
his commissoin as Colonel of the 21st Illinois 
Volunteers. This he soon received, and was at 
9 



this time in the field, and on the road to "Appo- 
mattox." 

The duties of the clerk were soon transferred 
to the making of commissions for regimental offi- 
cers, and as an interesting memento of war times, 
we print the following, which explains itself : 



Hmd-^mxtns 1 IHtlr ^^g, Ps. mis 

Camp Hancock, Oct. iS, 1862. 

Enoch Howard, Esq., Springfield, III. 

Dear Sir: Your favor of the 13th inst. is at 
hand, together with commission. Please accept 
my thanks for your promptness, and it would af- 
ford me much pleasure to return the compliment 
whenever it may be in my power. All well and 
send kind regards. 

Truly yours, 
Geo. B. Hoge, 
Col. Comd'g ii^th III. Vol. 

The next quite interesting order from the Ad- 
jutant-General to his young staff assistant, will 
prove a confidence in the young man's services, 
and a desire to compliment him. The following 
order was very eagerly sought for by staff offi- 
cers older in years and in services than the one 
upon whom it was conferred. It reads as follows : 
10 



ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE. 

Spziitgfield, Nov. 25th, 1862. 

Brig.-General J. M. T utile, Cairo, Ills. 

Sir : This will be presented by Majors M. B. 
Derrick and Enoch Howard of this Department, 
who are under orders^ the former for Memphis 
and the latter for Helena, Arkansas, charged 
with the duty of procuring reports from organiza- 
tions at those points, forming a portion of the Vol. 
forces of this State. 

Their duties will facilitate matters pertaining 
to the reports in which the State and U. S. author- 
ities are jointly interested, and I would thank you 
to issue such orders as may be necessary to secure 
transportation to and from the points designated. 

At direction of Gov. Yates. 

Yours very truly, 

Allen C. Fuller, 

A dju tan t- G eneral. 

ADJUTANT GENERAI^'S OFFICE. 

Springfield. Nov. 26th, 1862. 

Maj. Louis D. Hubbard, A. Ass't Adjt.-Gen'l, 
Army of the S.-West. 

My Dear Sir: This will be presented by 
Major Enoch Howard of this Department, who 
visits Helena to procure reports from Regts. or 
11 



detached Companies of Ills. Vols, serving in your 
Dept. 

I will esteem it a favor for such conveniences 
and assistance as it may be proper and your pleas- 
ure to give him. 

Yours very truly, 
John S. Loomis, 

Asst Adj.-GenH. 

The new Major Howard now became a special 
messenger from the State of Illinois to Helena, 
Arkansas, and was engaged in carrying out the 
instructions of the Adjutant-General with such 
troops as were stationad at that post from the 
State of Illinois. 

The next move according to orders, was a re- 
turn to Memphis, Tenn., for consultation with his 
comrade Maj. M. B. Derrick. 

While at the Gayosa House in Memphis there 
occurred what seemed to Mr. Howard to be a 
providential meeting with Colonel Thos. H. Yeat- 
man of Cincinnati. Both being natives of the 
State of Ohio, it required but a short time to be- 
come friends. 

Colonel Yeatman was at that time General Su- 
pervising Special Agent of the U. S. Treasury 
Department for all territory captured from the 
Confederates on the Mississippi River south of 
Cairo, Illinois, with headquarters at Memphis. 

This friendship with Colonel Yeatman resulted 
12 



in the offer to appoint Mr. Howard his private 
secretary, with the promise that he be placed in 
charge of the first Custom House opened south 
of Memphis. To the experienced ear of the ex- 
bank teller this offer had the ring: of business in 
it, and it was accepted, with leave that he should 
return to Illinois, make his report to the Adjutant- 
General, and offer his resignation. 

As proof of the friendly feeling which existed 
between Gen. Fuller and his late employe, we are 
pleased to publish the following complimentary 
letter, written about one year after the close of 
the Civil War, from Gen. Allen C. Fuller to Sen- 
ator J. R. Doolittle of Wisconsin. 

Ckicago, Nov. 2y, 1866. 

Hon. J. R. Doolittle, Washington, D. C. 

My Dear Sir : I take the liberty of introduc- 
ing to your favorable acquaintance Mr. Enoch 
Howard of this city, who has business with the 
Treasury Department. Mr. Howard was for- 
merly in the Adjutant- General's office in this 
state during a portion of my administration in 
that office. I always found him a young gentle- 
man of unimpeachable integrity and I believe is 
fully entitled to your confidence. 

Any attention or assistance you may show him 
will be reciprocated if opportunity offers by me, 
and will be fully appreciated by him. 
Yours very truly, 

Allen C. Fuller. 
13 



The service for many months, as private sec- 
retary with Colonel Yeatman, at Memphis, Tenn., 
was both pleasant and instructive. The promise 
of Colonel Yeatman to his private secretary was 
now to be made a reality, because Gen. Frederick 
Steele, in command of the Union Army in Arkan- 
sas, had defeated the Confederates at Little Rock 
and captured the city. Therefore the custom 
house should be opened, and Enoch Howard was 
commissioned Special Agent of the Treasury De- 
partment to be placed in charge of the custom 
house in that city, with instructions to report di- 
rect to the Secretary of the Treasury at Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

During the greater part of a year the custom 
house at Little Rock was so managed as to re- 
ceive the commendation of the Treasury Depart- 
ment at Washington and the officers of General 
Steele's Army at Little Rock. 

At this time Gen. Steele was ordered to move 
his army on to Camden, Ark., and occupy that 
town. Mr. Howard was instructed by the Treas- 
ury Department to accompany Gen. Steele's army 
to Camden and take charge of the custom house 
duties at that place. 

The march to Camden met with no opposition 
from the Confederate army, and the town was 
occupied in the evening. All was quiet until 
about 4- o'clock the next afternoon, when to the 
utter surprise of General Steele and his army, 
14 



they were fired upon by the Confederates in com- 
mand of Gen. Kirby Smith, with about twenty 
thousand troops, as against General Steele, with 
less than ten thousand men under arms. 

The attack being entirely unexpected and in 
superior force. Gen. Steele at once ordered a 
forced retreat toward Little Rock. At "Jenkins' 
Ferry," on the Saline River, Gen. Steele was 
overtaken by the Confederates, and a desperate 
battle was fought. The enemy were forced to fall 
back, and Gen. Steele crossed the river and 
pushed on to Little Rock. 

Major Howard had been temporarily added to 
Gen. Steele's staff, and, of course, without the 
Major's consent had been placed where he could 
experience his first ''baptism of fire." 

Notwithstanding all of this war danger and 
excitement, the Major once more safely landed 
in Little Rock. 

The following commissions were given to Mr. 
Howard, which located him at the Military Post 
of Pine Blufif, in Arkansas, then in the command 
of Gen. Powell" Clayton, a brave soldier and a 
true friend, who at this writing is our Ambas- 
sador to Mexico: 

Lmie Rock, Ark., Aug. i8th, 1864, 

To Mr. Enoch Howard. 

You are hereby appointed Local Special Agent 
of the Treasury Department of the United States 
15 



at Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, State of Arkan- 
sas, in place of E. R. Huggins, resigned. You 
will particularly observe and conform to the Reg- 
ulations of the Treasury Department concerning 
"Commercial intercourse with and in States de- 
clared in insurrection, and the collection of aban- 
doned and captured property in your District," 
keeping the records and making the reports pre- 
scribed by Regulation XLVIII, and, also, con- 
form your action in said office to the Local Rules 
prescribed for the First Agency. 

B. K. Campbell, 
Asst. Sp. Agt Try. Dept 
Per L. E. Barber, Depy. 

SECOND AGENCY. 

Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 8th, 1864. 

Sir: You are hereby designated as a Local 
Special Agent authorized to grant permits for 
the shipment of products as provided in Regula- 
tion 38, Series July 29, 1864. You will be gov- 
erned in all respects by the Regulations. 

I enclose a copy of a letter from the Secretary 
of Treasury by which you will see an amendment 
is made in this regard to Section 38. 
I am, respectfully, 
Wm. W. Orme, 
Sup. Spec. Agt. 2nd Agency. 
Enoch Howard, Local Special Agt., Pine Bluffs. 
16 



In the course of Mr. Howard's administration 
of the Pine Bluff Treasury Department there was 
but Httle of interest to relate, except the regular 
transaction of the treasury and custom house 
duties. This continued all through the exciting 
times of President Lincoln's assassination, the 
surrender of the Confederate Army, and final col- 
lapse of the rebellion. 

Some unfinished business having called Mr. 
Howard to Memphis, he was consulted in relation 
to the collection and shipment of captured Con- 
federate cotton in the State of Mississippi, and 
was then appointed Asst. Special Agent of the 
Treasury Department and assigned to duty, as 
will be shown by the following commission and 
instructions : 

Trmsurg g:e|rartm:en:t. 

SECOND AGENCY. 

Memphis, Tenn., Nov. l6th, l865. 

Sir : You are hereby appointed an Asst. Spe- 
cial Agent of the Treasury Dept. to superintend 
the shipment of captured cotton, and assigned to 
duty on the line of the Mobile & Ohio R. R'd in 
the Counties of Monroe, Loundes, Octibbeha and 
Noxuhee in the State of Mississippi. 

You will proceed forthwith down the Mobile 
& Ohio Railroad, remain at the first station until 
all the Gov't cotton is moved and then proceed to 
the next, shipping nothing but Gov't cotton. 
17 



You will act in conjunction with John T. Sal- 
ter in such manner as will enable one of you to 
be present at the loading and shipment of cars in 
the Counties named, whether they are loaded for 
Mobile or Memphis. All shipments will either 
be made to Mobile, consigned to James M. Tom- 
eny, Supg. Special Agent Treas. Dept. at that 
place, or to Memphis, consigned to me. 

Enclosed herewith you will find copy of direc- 
tions from Col. Van. E. Young as to the actions 
of Mr. Harrison Johnston and those acting under 
him in connection with this cotton. 

I desire that they shall have every possible fa- 
cility for completing their contracts and making 
and preserving the records of the cotton shipped, 
and in giving such personal attention to each 
shipment as they desire to give. Your duties will 
be more supervising than executive. 

While they are restrained by Mil. orders from 
exercising any control over the cotton, you will 
see from the copy of the directions of Col. Young 
that they are not to be prevented from doing 
whatever may be necessary for its protection and 
proper preparation for shipment, or from such 
participation in loading and handling as may be 
necessary to enable them to make and preserve 
complete records of all cotton shipped. 

You will take receipts in triplicate from the 
Agents of the R. R. Companies to Harrison John- 
ston, Esq., Asst. Spec. Agent Treas. Dept. One 
18 



of these receipts you will forward to Mr. Tomeny 
or to me, according to the destination of the cot- 
ton, indicating upon it what contractor collected 
it. One of them you will give to Mr. Johnston 
and the other retain until further directions. 

If any bales have been set aside to any con- 
tractor or individual as those to be set aside, you 
will so identify them as that you can inform Mr. 
Tomeny or me which they are, so that they can 
be identified by us on their arrival. All cotton 
collected, whether set aside or not, is to be 
shipped as above directed. 

Your compensation is to be six dollars per day, 
and to cover your expenses in traveling ten cents 
per mile will be allowed for all distances actually 
traveled by you. 

Respectfully, 

W. W. Orme, 
Sup^. Spec. Agt. 2nd Agency. 
Per David G. Barnitz, Acting. 

Enoch Howard, Esq., Memphis, Tenn. 

Soon after the return to Memphis of Asst. 
Spec. Agt. Enoch Howard, and having made his 
report of the successful shipment of captured cot- 
ton according to orders, he was once more called 
upon to do duty in the State of Arkansas, and on 
ground which to him was as familiar as Sandusky 
Street in Delaware. 

In the new appointment and commission it will 
19 



be seen that it reads "Special Agent," and for 
special purpose, and that it is also of much im- 
portance to the Treasury Department. 

This will be seen in the commission and in- 
structions, as follows : 

SECOND AGENCY. 

Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 26th, 1 865. 

Enoch Howard, Esq. 

Sir: By direction of the Secretary of the 
Treasury, you are hereby appointed a Special 
Agent to make certain investigations at Little 
Rock and in the region of the Oachita River, into 
the operations of the Agents collecting cotton for 
the Government. 

The copies of the letter of the Secretary of the 
Treasury and of the telegrams of Gen'l Reynolds, 
E. L. Guantt, and Gov. Murphy to the Secretary 
and the President are herewith enclosed as an 
indication of the investigations you are expected 
to make. 

You will call on those gentlemen at Little Rock 
and obtain from them all the information upon 
which their telegrams were based, and act upon 
such information. 

You will respectfully apply to Gen'l Reynolds 
for such military aid as you may require in the 
prosecution of your investigation. You will re- 
port the result of your operations to me at this 
20 



place as soon as possible, sending a duplicate 
thereof to Supervising Special Agent O. H. Bur- 
bridge at New Orleans. 

You will be careful to make such a thorough 
investigation of all the facts and circumstances 
connected with the collection of Confederate cot- 
ton by the several Assistant Special Agents as re- 
ferred to in the letter of the Secretary and the 
telegrams therein enclosed, as to enable the Gov- 
ernment to act understandingly in applying the 
remedy for any abuses that have occurred. 

Your compensation will be $6.00 per day and 
10 cents per mile for all distances traveled in the 
prosecution of your mission. 

I am, respectfully, 
David G. Barnitz, 
Slip. Spcl Agt. 2d Agency. 

The successful result of this very important in- 
vestigation conducted by Major Howard is a 
source of no little pride to him, and not only to 
Mr. Howard as special agent, but to his friends 
of the present time and of earlier days. 

The Special Agent's report can be stated in a 
few words. The instructions of the Supervising 
Special Agent David G. Barnitz, under orders 
from Hugh McCulloch, Secretary of the U. S. 
Treasury Department, were carried out to the 
letter, and it is a pleasure to state that within 
sixty days after the report of Mr. Howard had 
21 



been mailed to the parties designated, the entire 
force of Assistant Special Agents engaged in col- 
lecting Confederate cotton were at once with- 
drawn from the State of Arkansas. 

At this point of service in the U. S. Treasury 
Department Mr. Howard expected to retire, be- 
lieving that he had performed his duties to the 
best of his ability in the Department. However, 
when he arrived at Memphis to make a final re- 
port, instead of retiring from office, he was newly 
commissioned and ordered to at once proceed to 
the Indian Territory, and on another very impor- 
tant duty which would no doubt involve the 
Treasury Department in large sums of money. 

Following will be found original commission 
and order : 

Trmsurg g:ep:artm:eitt» 

SECOND AGENCY. 

Mempliis, Tenn., Febzuaty 6th, 1 866. 

Enoch Howard, Esq., 

Asst. Special Agt. Treasury Dept 

Sir : You will at once proceed to Little Rock 
and in company with Major W. W. Wilshire, 
proceed to the Indian Territory and receive and 
receipt for such lots of cotton as may be delivered 
by him to you at Fort Smith, Ark., or Shreveport, 
La., rendering to him such advice and material 
aid as may be in your power to forward the col- 
lection of such Government cotton as may be 
LofO. 22 



found in the Indian Territory. For your further 
government you will be furnished with a copy of 
Mr. Wilshire's contract. 

Your compensation will be that fixed by the 
letter of the Secretary of Treasury of date i8th 

August, 1865. 

D. G. Barnitz^ 

Sup. Special Agt. 2nd Agency. 
Per W. R. Hackley, Depty. 



January, 2_5th, 1866. 

Sir: I inclose herewith copy of a communi- 
cation of this date to Maj.-Gen. Logan in regard 
to Government cotton said to be in the Indian 
Territory, which will explain itself. 

I doubt whether much if anything will be real- 
ized from the project, but am not willing to fore- 
go any proper means or opportunity to recover 
for the Government what property belongs to it. 
I will thank you, therefore, to detail a competent 
and trustworthy person to accompany Mr. Wil- 
shire as therein required and to give him such de- 
tailed instructions as will enable him to carry out 
my instructions in the premises. He should be an 
Asst. Special Agent and should be required to 
give a suitable bond for the faithful discharge of 
23 



his duty and proper accounting for the property 
received by him. 

Very respectfully, 
( Signed) H. McCulloch, 

Secretary of the Treasury. 

D. G. Barnitz, Esq., Sup. Sp. Agt., 

Memphis, Tenn. 

The report of Special Agent Howard in this 
case was somewhat out of the usual form. It was 
intended that the whole expedition should move 
overland from Little Rock toward the Indian 
Territory, or to Sheveport, La. But it was dis- 
covered that the Special Agent's papers required 
the indoresment of Gen. Sheridan, in command of 
that Department, with headquarters at New Or- 
leans. 

This made it necessary that the Special Agent 
should make the trip by steamboat from Little 
Rock to New Orleans, and thence up the Red 
River to Shreveport, La. At that point he would 
meet the the contracting parties with the military 
escort. 

The trip to New Orleans was made and the 
indorsement of Gen. Sheridan was obtained with- 
out unusual delay. 

But the trip up the Red River was a different 

proposition. When about half the distance from 

New Orleans to Shreveport had been covered by 

the steamer on which the Special Agent was a 

24 



passenger, he was informed by wire to the effect 
that the Secretary of the Treasury at Washington 
had ''released" all of the Government cotton in 
the Indian Territory and that the "Wilshire" con- 
tract was void and of no further effect, and that 
Special Agent Howard would please report at 
Memphis, Tenn. 

This order was promptly obeyed and nothing 
of interest occurred at Memphis. The next move 
for the "Ohio" Special Agent was an order to 
report to the Secretary of the Treasury at Wash- 
ington. 

At the Treasury Department Mr. Howard 
made a verbal report of his duties performed as 
related to the "Indian Territory" cotton contract, 
the report being promptly accepted. After some 
complimentary words in favor of Mr. Howard, 
his resignation as Special Agent of the Treasury 
Department was accepted and the business closed. 

The following commission and order showing 
the appointment of Enoch Howard to the position 
of Temporary Aid of the Revenue on board the 
steamer Westmoreland, for the iiound trip from 
Memphis, Tenn., to Cairo, Illinois, and return, 
will no doubt be of interest to many people at this 
late day, as it discloses a very interesting feature 
of the custom house proceedings during the Civil 
War of the Rebellion. The commission referred 
to was issued at the request of Col. Thos. H. 
Yeatman, Special Agent of the Treasury Depart- 
25 



ment at Memphis, to his private secretary, Enoch 
Howard, for a special purpose, and the duties 
were performed in accordance with the printed 
commission and order, as follows : 

SURVEYOR'S OFFICE. 

By authority of the Secretary of the Treasury, 
I hereby appoint Mr. Enoch Howard Temporary 
Aid of the Revenue, on board the Steamer West- 
moreland, about to clear from this port for Cairo j 
Ills., and intermediate ports, and return. Said Aid 
is hereby authorized to examine all freight and 
t>aggage on board said vessel, or that may be pre- 
sented for transportation on board said boat, and 
to see that same is not allowed to be taken on 
board said vessel for transportation to any point 
heretofore declared under insurrectionary control, 
for which a shipping permit has not been granted 
by some authorized Agent of the Treasury De- 
partment. And he is further authorized and re- 
quired to seize any and all goods found on board 
said vessel, for which a permit, as aforesaid, has 
not been granted. Said Aid is also required to 
see that the officers of said boat, in all respects 
conform to the laws and regulations of the United 
States and the Treasury Department, in regard 
to the shipment of goods to persons and places 
heretofore under insurrectionary control. Said 
Aid is required to give his personal supervision 
26 



to the discharging of freight from said boat, and 
see that the same corresponds with the original 
manifest, and he will not, under any circum- 
stances, allow any freight to be landed at any 
point other than that indicated on the manifest, 
and for which the original permit was granted. 
He will take especial care and see that no intoxi- 
cating liquors, bitters or cordials are carried on 
said boat, except such as are specially permitted 
by the proper authorities, and named on the mani- 
fest. He will also see that no freight of any kind 
be taken on board said boat after leaving this 
port, even with a Surveyor's permit, for which a 
permit would have been refused at this port; 
that is, if whisky, bitters and foreign wines are 
prohibited here, the same rule will apply at al 
other points below this port; and said Aid will 
see that his rule is strictly conformed to. Said 
Aid is to receive as his compensation $2.00 per 
day and his board and passage, going and return- 
ing, to be paid by said boat. 

Given under my hand and seal, this yth day of 
An gust J 1863. 

R. HUIGH, 
Acting Surveyor of Customs. 
[Seal.] 

At the close of the Civil War Mr. Howard re- 
turned to his home in Chicago and engaged in 
the real estate business, and with satisfactory suc- 

27 



cess until the great Chicago fire of October 9, 
1 87 1. After the fire and smoke had cleared 
away he returned to the real estate field and con- 
tinued in that line of business, with few excep- 
tions, until the year 1898. In the year 1880, being 
a resident of the First Ward in Chicago, he be- 
came a member of the First Ward Republican 
Club. Not many months thereafter he was 
elected and served as the Republican South Town 
Committeeman for the First Ward of Chicago. 
Being conscientiously devoted to the Republican 
party, he was unanimously re-elected for ten con- 
secutive years. 

In the latter part of Mr. Howard's service as 
Committeeman, he was tendered the nomination 
for Supervisor by the South Town Republican 
Convention, but declined the honor in favor of a 
friend, who was nominated and elected. In a 
few years after that he was very highly compli- 
mented by an offer of the nomination for Asses- 
sor of the South Town^ but declined to accept, 
and the honorable and honest Frank Drake was 
once more persuaded to accept the nomination 
and was re-elected. 

It is with pleasure that we record the "five 
terms" of service of Mr. Howard as Chief Deputy 
Assessor for the South Town of Chicago, and 
"three terms" (of about three months each) as 
Chief Deputy Collector of Taxes in and for the 
South Town. 



As to the five terms of service as Chief Deputy 
Assessor in the South Town office, during the 
administration of Mr. Frank Drake and that of 
Major B. R. DeYounjgf, there was not a word of 
dispute as to the conduct of the office, nor as to 
the value of a single piece of property to be as- 
sessed. 

During the South Town Tax Collectorship of 
Mr. George Bass, Mr. Frank Gilbert and Mr. 
Barnard, and in a collection for the South Town 
of not less than two millions and a half of dollars, 
each "term" (of about three months) there was 
not a word of criticism as to the order of work in 
the office, and not the loss of one dollar in the 
collection of a total sum of seven millions and five 
hundred thousand dollars. All of which was very 
complimentary and highly appreciated by the 
Chief Deputy, 

In closing this life and work of Mr. Howard, 
his friends will no doubt be pleased to learn that 
he has written a book under the title "The New 
Spirit Light," and "Bible Text for the People," 
which may be obtained from the author. 



29 







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